I was dismayed to learn that the Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott Arizona-based companies-a vote you strongly supported-to show opposition to SB 1070 (Support our law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhood Act.)
You explained your support for the boycott as follows: “While we recognize that as neighbors, we share resources and ties with the state of Arizona that may be difficult to sever, our goal is not to hurt the local economy of Los Angeles, but to impact the economy of Arizona. Our intent is to use our collars- or the withholding of our dollars- to send a message”
I received your message; please receive mine. As a state-wide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona’s electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the “resources and ties” we share with the City of Los Angeles. In fact, approximately twenty-five percent of the electricity consumed in Los Angeles is generated by power plants in Arizona.
If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona’s economy.
Peoples of goodwill can disagree over merits of SB 1070. A state -wide economic boycott of Arizona is not a message in goodwill.
Commissioner Gary Price
